the younger men of the Republican party. In addition he was the candidate of northern Iowa which had never been represented by a Republican in the United States Senate. When the contest was transferred to the Capital where the Legislature was assembling, the city was crowded with the enthusiastic friends and supporters of the three candidates. It was generally believed that either Harlan or Allison would be nominated, as Harlan had the warm support of a large majority of the Republicans of southern Iowa and if he could not be nominated it was evident that no other man in the southern part of the State could succeed. It was equally certain that the supporters of Mr. Allison would stand by him to the end. Thus, while Mr. Wilson was the intellectual equal of either of his competitors, a legislator who ranked high and was in every respect well equipped for the position, his success at this time was not anticipated by well informed persons.
In the heat of the conflict serious charges were made by enemies of Senator Harlan against his official conduct which left some bitterness in the hearts of his host of devoted friends. As the first Republican United States Senator from Iowa, always true to the great cause of human freedom upon which that party was founded, for many years one of the most influential leaders in the Senate, a trusted friend of Lincoln and Grant, no man in the State possessed in a greater degree the confidence, esteem and admiration of the Republicans of Iowa than Senator Harlan. Had his home been in the northern part of the Senate his success would have been assured. Locality largely decided the contest.
The joint caucus met on the 10th of January, 1872, and on the informal ballot the vote stood as follows:
| William B. Allison | 60 votes |
| James Harlan | 38 votes |
| James F. Wilson | 22 votes |
